Remus pulled his knees to his chest, wrapping his arms around them and sobbing. He was in the Shrieking Shack, waiting for the change to come upon him. He hated his life. The pain was excruciating, and he knew that no one would ever be able to love him. He was a monster. He closed his eyes in despair.

"Why do you cry, child?" He heard. He looked up and saw a girl. She looked to be about ten or eleven years old, just a year younger than himself. She bent down next to him and rested her hand on his cheek.

"No! You can't be here, I'm dangerous, get out!" Remus cried, pulling away from her. "Please, I don't want to hurt you," he whimpered, already beginning to feel the pull of the moon.

"Hush, child, you cannot hurt me."

Remus shrieked in pain, his fingernails digging into his palms. "Please do-" He broke off with a scream. The girl reached out and grabbed his hands, holding them tenderly in hers. "Be still, child. The moon will protect you."

"No," Remus gasped, "No, I hate the moon. The only thing it does is hurt me."

The girl was silent for a moment, still holding onto his hands, even though they were rapidly changing into clawed paws. "You do not understand, my son. Yes, the moon can cause pain, but it can also protect, comfort and guide."

Remus, now fully transformed, looked up into her old eyes. She smiled, reaching out a hand to caress his head. "Trust me, child of the moon."

"Who are you?" He whimpered.

She smiled gently. "My name is Artemis."